The following is part of the GPS Alumni-Student Connections Series, highlighting some of our students who have been recruited by our alumni. This series shows the power of connection between current students and our alumni.
Tina Ngo Bartel ’12, director of the Center of Excellence for Labor Market Research, still applies the skills she learned from her first position out of GPS to her roles today. Bartel highlights the value of mentorship through the strong connection she built with the GPS alumnus who offered her her first position.
How did you secure your internship?
My mentor, George Eiskamp ’03, and I met at a mock interview event hosted by GPS (IR/PS at the time). I was interested in startup companies and George had just launched GroundMetrics. He needed someone to help him with administrative and market research tasks, so I worked for him while going to school at GPS and then shortly thereafter.
Overall thoughts about your experience?
I learned the ins and outs of a company thanks to George’s wonderful mentorship. I learned how to review budgets, manage HR and payroll, conduct market research, implement “guerilla” marketing tactics and better manage projects. That experience proved to be valuable in every company I worked for since GroundMetrics.
I now run my own research center for the San Diego and Imperial Counties Community College Association and everything I do stems from that foundational experience. He’s still my mentor now and we meet once a quarter to brainstorm ideas in our professional and personal lives.